A TOP price of $15,000 for a Merino ram and $9000 for a Poll Merino ram at the Pooginook ram sale reflected keen interest in the breeding of top quality Merinos.
Return and volume buyers underpinned a strong sale at the annual auction of the Pooginook Merino and Poll Merino rams on account of Paraway Pastoral Co.
A good line of 260 Merino and Poll Merino rams was penned with 257 cleared for an average price of $1769.
The top price at $15,000 was paid for a Merino ram with the outstanding figures of 20.9-micron and Comfort Factor of 99.1.
It attracted the attention of purchaser Tony Inder, "Nyrang", Wellington, for its rich wool and structurally correct conformation.
"The ram will be joined to specially selected big framed ewes to sweeten the wool," Mr Inder said.
Mr Inder also purchased another Merino sire for $8000.
The top priced Poll Merino ram at $9000 was purchased by Geoff Parr, Te Parr Farming, "Gunbar Farm", Merriwagga.
It was a big upstanding ram with measurement of 21.8-micron and Comfort Factor of 99.15 and will be joined to selected Pooginook-blood ewes to increase wool cut and wool quality.
Among the many return buyers were Ian and Peter Robertson "Donnachaidh", Broomehill, Western Australia, who selected four rams at average price $1500.
Ian Robertson has been purchasing rams from Pooginook since 1955.
Other return buyers included WK Langley & Co, "Midgeon Park", Narrandera, whose draft of 11 rams averaged $1854; B & K Doyle, Forbes, who selected 6 rams at average of $1400, and PW & EJ Jones, "Skelbrook", Urana, who purchased 2 rams to a top of $3200 and an average of $2900.
Pooginook stud manager John Sutherland was delighted with the sale and said there was solid bidding to the end.
Buyers attended from WA, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland as well as many parts of NSW.
In summary: 149 Merino rams sold to average $1775.84 and 108 Poll Merino rams sold to average $1,760.65.